Car-step.



A. A. SCHRADER.

GAB. STEP.

APPLIOATIOH zum: APB.16 1911.

Patented Sept. 26,1911.

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A. A. SGHRADER.

GAB STEP.

APPLIOATION r11.121 .APB.15 1911.

1,004475. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

8 BHEIB'IS-BHBET 2.

B! PLANOGIAPM CD WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES rn rrnnr OFFICE.

ANNA A-. SCHBADElE 3 MQUNT LIVE I .NQ

CAR;-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Applipation filedAgril 15, 1811,

Iatented Sept. 26, 1911. Sefial N- 621399 Be it known tha t I, ANNA A. SCHRADER, a citizen oit' the United States, residing at Mount Olive, in the county of Maooupin and State of Illi1ioishave invented new ancl useful Improvements in Ca1 -Stepsof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car steps, the oloject of the invention being to provide an extensible supplernental step which may be readily adjusted or extended so as to lie beneath the lowermost fixed step and to be disposed in relative olose proxirnity with the ground, thus insuring ehe passenger 01' traveler against injury When stepping on o1 ofi of a car.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism adapted for operation to quiekly and readily extend the supplemental step to its operative position the said means including a locking memloer and means for engaging the same to hold the step normally in an elevated position beneath the lower most main step.

In the drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in theseveral viewsz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved oar step in position on a car, the supplemental step being in an elevated position. Fig. 2 is a similar view shovving the supplemental step in its extended osition. Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view of the supplemental step. Fig. 4 is a section through the controlling handle and through the locking member. Fig. 5 is a seotion on line 55 of Fig. l.

In the drawings, the oar A has the usual steps B extending downwardly frorn one side of the platform C. The lowermost step is disposed slightly above the lower end of -the side members D, and as shown in Fig. 1 015 the drawings, the supplemental or extensible step 1 is located directly beneath the said supplemental step and disposed between the lower extensions of the side members D so as 'to be housed thereby, preventing the supplemental step from forming an obstruction When the rolling stock is in motion.

A horizontal shaft 2 extends through the side members D of the main car steps, being suitably journaled in the side mernbers so that the shaft can be readily rotated. Secured to the shaft are gear wheels 3, being be1:s D 01? t;he 1nain ca r steps and engaged with the raok portions 4; of. the sliding supports 5. These support s are provided with longitudinally extending slots 6 through which the antifricfiion rollers 7 extend. These rollers are mounted on suitable studs 8 which extend from the side m embers D ancl as illustrated, each roller is provided with an exteriorly located enlarged guard portion 9. The guard portions of the rollers are disposed outermost on the guide members 5 and each is of a diameter exceeding that 0f the slots G so as 1:0 hold the guide 5 operatively associated with its side member D. The lower ends of the guide members 5 are provided with horizontal braoket portions 10 Which are secured to the underside of the supplemental step l.

The controlling shaft 2 is provided at one end with a crank handle 11 ancl pivoted 130 the handle, at 12, is a locking member 13. This member is provided with an actuating portion 14 which is located in such osition with respect to the handle 11 so as to be engaged therewith by the hand of the operator. A spring 15 is mounted on the handle 11, the free end of which bearing against the portion 14 of the locking momber, the spring exerting its tension to hold the member engaged between the Walls 16 of the substantially U-keeper meinber 17 on one of the side members D hereinbefore described.

Fro1n the construction herein disclosed, and on reference particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be understood that 011 the normal position of the supplemental step the handle 11 of the controlling shaft will be in a osition with respect to the keeper 17 to permit the loeking member 13 to be engaged therewith, such engagement serving to lock the controlling shaft against rotation and to hold the supplemental step securely confined against the lowermost main step of the car. When passengers are getting ofl or on the car the supplemental step is lowered so as Co be disposed in close proximity to ehe ground. On operation of the device to lower the supplemental step, if is obvious that When the handle 11 is grasped for the purpose of rotating the shaft 2 the portion 14 of the actnating member Will be engaged by the band and actuated thereby so that the member Will be moved out of engagement With the hereinbefore described keeper member 17. The antifriction rollers 7 are arranged so that the uppermost rollers form stops t0 limit the downward adjustment of the supplemental step.

I claimz An extensible step for cars comprising a movable step earrying member, gearing :Eor operat-ing the member, a controlling handle for the operating gearing, a substantially U-shaped keeper located adjacent the gearing, a locking means carried by the handle and adapted to engage the said keeper, ehe said means comprising a horizontally disposed arm pivotally connected to the underside of the handle and provided with an extended 01' actuating portion, a spring mounted on the handle, the said spring having its free end bearing against the actuating ortion 0:E the said arm whereby to hold the arm engaged betvveen the Walls of the said keeper so as t0 hold the movable memher against movement.

In testimony vvhereof I affix my signature in presence of tvvo witnesses.

ANNA A. SCHRADER.

Witnesses .ALVIN J. IRVINE, FRED .SCI-IRADLER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Comniissioner of Eatents,

V Washington, D. G. 

